Joel runs past my room, yelling about finding his boutonnière.

“It’s in the fridge, where I put my corsage too.” I yell, running the curling iron through one of the last pieces of my hair.

“Dude couldn’t even bring you a corsage, do I need to whoop his ass?” My brother appeared in my doorway, his button-up already rumpled.

“No, he paid for it, I just happened to be picking both of yours up and said I’d get it. Because I’m a nice girlfriend.” I stuck my tongue out as I combed my curls out, making them just so.

I wasn’t usually an overly girly-girl, but this was a school dance and I wanted to look nice. I’d bought a black dress that I thought I looked sexy but modest in, I’d bought new eyeshadow, and I’d spent forty minutes turning my straight hair into a voluminous piece of art.

“Well, you just let me know if he’s misbehaving, I’ll kill him.” My brother steps in and kisses my cheek, his Axe cologne making me choke.

I didn’t tell him that Carson decided to tell me he loved me for the first time when he was drunk at a party last weekend. Joel would have been pissed about that, but not as pissed as I was. He probably would have understood his best friend’s excuse that he needed the beer to be completely upfront and honest.

I was hurt by that; couldn’t he just tell me how he felt? I was his girlfriend. He could tell me anything without reservation.

But tonight I was trying to put it past me. I liked the homecoming dance, and it would be our second year going together. As sophomores, we were a little wiser, a little higher up on the food chain.

And my stomach fluttered at the idea of being on Carson’s arm. Just last week, one of the girls in our grade had tried to flirt with him in gym class. I’d been stupid blind with jealousy, until he’d come up and French kissed me in front of the whole volleyball class. It might have gotten him reprimanded by the teacher, but it was so worth it.

Thinking about dancing in his arms all night makes my stomach dip in anticipation.

“Bro! Love that tie.” I hear Joel yelling again from down the hall, and I close my door, not wanting Carson to see me until I was ready.

Checking my hair and makeup, I decide I’m satisfied and move to the bed where my dress lays. I’d already picked out the perfect underwear and bra and put them on. Bending over, I placed my feet into the small black heels that were the only pair I owned. And then, the final touch, I pulled the black dress over my head. Smoothing it in all the right places, I finally opened the door.

My boyfriend leaned against the wall across the hall from my door, his wavy brown hair almost falling in his eyes. Navy suit pants covered his long legs, a white button down tucked into them, and a yellow tie with navy sailboats was knotted around his neck. He looked handsome, and I wanted to kiss him immediately.

“Wow.” His gaze raked over my body.

My skin was on fire under his stare, and that tingling that had started to happen between my legs was there again.

“I like the sailboats.” I walked to him, my heels clicking a bit.

Pushing off, he met me halfway and kissed me, our lips meeting in a sweet embrace.

“You ready to dance?” He did a little mambo, which made me laugh.

“Yes, let’s go, you corny nut.”

We walked into the kitchen, where Dad was pinning the flower on Joel’s shirt.

“Why aren’t you going with someone, Joel?” Dad asked him.

“Dad, going single is way better. I can mack on all of the single, desperate girls who are looking for a man.” Joel smoothed his blond hair back like he was slick or something.

“My son, the charmer.” Dad rolled his eyes and came to give me a kiss on the cheek. “You look wonderful, Blake.”

“Thanks, Dad. Are we ready to go?”

Both boys nod at me, and Dad grabs his keys off the counter.

Twenty minutes later, the three of us are walking into the gym, done up in its streamers and balloons. Girls in their best dresses, boys in slacks and ties, the DJ spinning today’s latest dance hits. A table of refreshments and chairs lined the back walls, for those who didn’t dance or wanted to take a break. Teachers mingled with each other, trying to give students their distance but also keeping a good eye on everyone.

“I tried to sneak a flask in but Dad got to it first.” Joel pouted.

“Why do you need alcohol tonight? There is no need!” It actually annoys me that he wanted to spike his drink.

All too much these days, it seems like my twin brother wants to drink and party. I’m not sure I like it.

“Carson, back me up, man. It would definitely help to lighten the mood.” He nudged his best friend.

Carson looks at the ground, and I know he’s thinking about the other night and how alcohol hadn’t done him any favors there. “Uh, yeah man I have to think that wasn’t a good idea. You’d definitely get caught here.”

Joel snorted. “Okay, whatever, trying to impress your girlfriend, I get it.”

He walked away from us, to prowl for a girl for the night I was guessing.

“Do you want to dance?” Carson holds out a hand.

“Only if you can keep up.” I winked and pulled him into the throng of people.

The DJ bumped tunes all night, everything from rap and hip-hop to old school rock that everyone belted the lyrics to. We left the dance floor a few times to get water, and Carson would hold his hand to the small of my back and kiss me in between sips.

Almost two hours later, we were still going strong. I’d danced with some of the girls I knew, and Carson watched on, his eyes on my body the whole time.

And then, the dance floor paired off as a slow song came on.

Carson gripped my waist as K-Ci and Jojo’s “All My Life” floated over the dance floor.

“You look amazing, baby.” His dark eyes dance in the disco ball lights.

I blush, because how could I not. “Thanks, you don’t look too bad yourself.”

He straightens his tie, a smirk dusting his lips. “You know I look damn good.” Carson’s face got serious as the chorus chimed in. “I’m sorry about the other night.”

My heart hammered for a beat or two, I hadn’t expected him to bring it up this soon. “Okay.”

He slowed our slow dance. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

Carson’s eyes, those dark expressive eyes, were always the windows to his thoughts. And I wanted to know them.

“Sure.” I laced my hand in his and let him lead us off the dance floor.

The halls are empty, the click of our dress shoes echoing off of the walls. At the end of most of the corridors stand locked gates so that students can’t get too far away from the cafeteria where the dance is taking place. Carson dips me into the science wing and inside a classroom.

Once inside, he leads me to the first two desks in the first row, and we sit.

“I’m glad you decided to come tonight.” He smiles, that little smirk that makes my stomach drop and my palms sweat.

“Of course I came, where else would I be?” There was a “duh” tone in my voice.

“Well, since the other night, I’ve sensed things have been weird between us. And I don’t want. I never want to have secrets or awkwardness between us, Blake. You’re my best friend. You’re the only one I want to spend all of my time with.”

I don’t know what to say to that. We’ve been dating since we were thirteen, almost three years, and I’ve loved him since the start. There were so many times I almost let it slip, but I wanted him to say it first. And then he did, and it was totally not romantic. Screw me for being a perfectionist, but I just dreamed that there would be this ideal moment Carson would profess his feelings for me.

“I love you, Blake. I really do. I said it the other night, and I was drunk, but I meant every syllable. It doesn’t matter if I’m sick, young, old, drunk, a thousand miles away or underwater. I love you, and that is never going to change.”

He got up from the desk and walked over to mine, placing his hands on either side of the top and leaning in. His lips were so close, and I knew he wanted to kiss me.

But I had to say something first. “I love you, too.”

Carson leaned in, and as he kissed me, I knew he was right. It didn’t matter where it was said. The only thing that mattered was that I loved him with my whole heart, and that would never, ever change.